GREENEVILLE, Tenn. --- After claiming their first South Atlantic Conference victory of the 2021 season Sunday afternoon, the Tusculum University women's soccer team will embark on its third long road trip of the season when the Pioneers visit Coker on Saturday in their only match of the week.
The Pioneers (1-5-0, 1-1-0 SAC) defeated Mars Hill 2-0 on Sunday afternoon, scoring a pair of second-half goals following a weather delay. Sophomore goalkeeper Emma Harriman earned her first career shutout by making five saves for the Pioneers, who scored in the 59th and 69th minutes to claim the win.
Tusculum, which traveled to Hawaii in the preseason and played a pair of matches in Florida earlier this month, will depart Friday for the 278-mile sojourn to Hartsville, South Carolina for a noon kickoff with the Cobras on Saturday.
RECAPPING THE WEEK
On Wednesday, Tusculum opened SAC play with a 3-0 loss at Lincoln Memorial University. The Railsplitters scored a first-half goal and added two more in the second half for the victory over the Pioneers. Lincoln Memorial outshot Tusculum 20-11 in the match, but the Railsplitters had a 11-3 edge in shots on goal. Harriman made seven saves in goal for the Pioneers.
Two second-half goals following a weather delay sparked Tusculum University to a 2-0 win over Mars Hill Sunday afternoon at Pioneer Field. An own goal in the 59th minute gave the Pioneers the lead, and junior midfielder Bailey Bylotas added an insurance goal nearly 10 minutes later. Harriman recorded her first career shutout for Tusculum by making five saves. The Pioneers outshot the Lions by a 16-12 margin in the victory.
PROFILING THE PIONEERS
Senior forward Kenzie Ellenburg has three of the Pioneers' five goals through their first six matches. She is tied for sixth in the SAC in goals despite missing two games due to injury. Ellenburg leads the Pioneers in shot attempts (13) and shots on goal (8).
Harriman, who has started three straight matches since making her debut against Tampa on Sept. 10, is fourth in the conference with 21 saves. The Pioneers faced a season-low five shots on goal against Mars Hill, after yielding double figures in four of their first five matches.
The own goal scored by the Pioneers on Sunday against Mars Hill was their first since Oct. 13, 2018 in a 1-1 draw at Anderson. Tusculum was last credited with an own goal at home in a 4-0 win over Brevard on Oct. 8, 2014.
Tusculum is the only team in the SAC that has not received a yellow card this season. The Pioneers are looking for their first away goal of the season, having been shut out at Tampa, Eckerd and Lincoln Memorial.
SCOUTING THE COBRAS
Coker (0-1-2, 0-1-0 SAC) lost 3-0 at Lincoln Memorial last Saturday, as the Railsplitters outshot the Cobras 31-2 and scored all three of their goals in the second half. Coker did not have a shot on goal, while junior keeper Sarah Swaim was called upon to make 12 saves.
Coker's first two matches of the season ended in draws -- a 0-0 deadlock with Southern Wesleyan on Sept. 2 and a 1-1 stalemate with Converse on Sept. 11, both at home. Swaim had two saves against Southern Wesleyan and junior Katie Moore made eight stops in the tie with Converse. The lone goal for Coker was scored in the first half by freshman forward Abbie Boling.
The Cobras finished with an 0-6 record during the abbreviated spring schedule, and have lost 30 straight SAC matches since a 1-0 win over Lincoln Memorial on Oct. 14, 2017. Tusculum is 7-0 against Coker since the Cobras joined the SAC in 2013.
FOLLOW THE PIONEERS
Live stats and video are available for all home Tusculum University women's soccer matches. Links to stats and video for home and away matches are available at tusculumpioneers.com.
